Turks and Caicos Islands

Short Term Actions
Reassess water pricing structures to ensure that the full cost of water is charged: Water pricing should
include the cost of water supply systems and account for required investments. The Department for Water
Undertaking should reassess water pricing structures to ensure that prices are set at a level which
encourages water conservation, reducing water wastage and demand.
Medium Term Actions
Develop computer models of groundwater flow to account for the impact of sea-level rise on
groundwater levels: Numerical models of ground-water have been used elsewhere to establish how sealevel
rise impacts on aquifer thickness and saline intrusion (e.g. Bobba, 2002). Due to the particular
vulnerability of aquifers in the Turks and Caicos Islands, these models should be developed in order to
effectively mitigate the effects of climate change on freshwater resources. Whereas the expertise for this
recommendation may not be present within statutory bodies, this initiative may need to be contracted out
by the Department of Water Undertaking to specialised consulting firms or the academic research
fraternity.
Increase water conservation measures, particularly in the tourism industry: In hotels, these measures
should include the installation of low flush toilets, automated faucet controls in public facilities and aerated
faucets in guest rooms, and low flow showerheads in bathrooms. Water saving technologies in the tourism
sector should be encouraged (Climate Change Committee, 2011), including waste water recycling.
Long Term Actions
Assess the possibility of broad scale implementation of localised waste water recycling schemes and
legislation, including for agricultural irrigation: Reducing the required fresh water for household and hotel
use would alleviate pressure on groundwater systems. The country also engages in a number of activities
that demand considerable quantities of water, for instance golf courses and the tourism industry
particularly through cruise ships. Waste water from domestic and tourism use can be recycled to produce
irrigation water, either for agriculture or the irrigation of golf courses. Key stakeholders from Government
(the Department for Water Undertaking, Department of Tourism), the private sector (TSG Water, Turks and
Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association) and the local community (Turks and Caicos Farmers and Community
Association) can investigate this potential. Such an initiative would alleviate the pressure on groundwater
resources and reduce the need for desalination
Water infrastructure should be developed to increase access to sanitation facilities and safe water, and
reduce vulnerability to climate variability and extreme events, including droughts and major storms or
hurricanes: This will require the collaborative effort of government and private sector stakeholders
involved in water resources, health and planning to ensure that:
(i) water storage is encouraged through incentives and every new building has its own rain water
harvesting and stored water infrastructure; encouragement should be given to retrofit these to
existing properties which do not already have them (Byron, 2011);
(ii) the viability of additional large public storage facilities be assessed, allowing improved access to
potable water in different communities;
(iii) losses in water distribution be reduced through pipe replacement, and monitored through the
use of electronic bulk metering (Byron, 2011); and
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